GTA 6 ‘Stealing’ One Mechanic From Red Dead Redemption 2 Makes Perfect Sense

Grand Theft Auto 6 is easily one of the most highly anticipated games of all time, and it can thank Red Dead Redemption 2 for a lot of that hype. Naturally, Rockstar was a major name in the gaming world long before RDR2, with a nearly impeccable track record (when it comes to games themselves, anyway), but Red Dead Redemption 2 helped solidify the developer as an all-time great, and that will be the case regardless of what happens with GTA 6.

Considering the immense critical and commercial success of Red Dead Redemption 2, there’s a decent chance that GTA 6 will borrow some of its features, or at least its broader design concepts. Already, it’s clear that GTA 6 is targeting the same level of graphical fidelity and attention to detail as its wild-west predecessor, perhaps even surpassing it in some ways. Of course, Grand Theft Auto is far less about realism than Red Dead Redemption, and it can be assumed that it won’t feature the same sort of verisimilitude, but the sheer density of content on offer in RDR2 could be recreated in GTA 6. Assuming Rockstar isn’t trying to radically pivot away from its 2018 opus, there’s at least one obvious mechanic that should sneak into Grand Theft Auto 6.

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Red Dead Redemption 2’s Honor Mechanics Should Influence GTA 6

Red Dead Redemption 2‘s honor mechanic is fairly rudimentary, but can nevertheless have a significant impact on the player’s experience. For instance, NPCs will treat Arthur differently depending on his honor level, and shops may adjust their prices in accordance with their opinion of him. Even RDR2‘s ending can be influenced by the player’s final honor rankings. This system is a spin on the fame and honor mechanics of the first Red Dead Redemption, which were more reputation-focused and less all-encompassing.

The way honor functions in Red Dead Redemption 2 makes sense, especially within that game’s narrative context: as its title suggests, Red Dead Redemption 2 is about Arthur’s personal journey through the messy brambles of morality and ethics. But GTA 6 will presumably be a bit less concerned with ethical ponderings and what it means to be a “good” person in a changing world. Indeed, if it’s anything like the rest of the games in the series, it will likely present a morally gray world, colored by absurd and over-the-top characters, governments, and social trends. Within this decidedly irreverent narrative framework, RDR2‘s honor system would have to be tweaked for the best results.

A More Reputation-Focused Spin On RDR2’s Honor Mechanics Could Work Wonders for GTA 6

It would appear that Grand Theft Auto 6 will focus heavily on interpersonal relationships. There’s the central partnership between Jason and Lucia, but the game’s second trailer highlights a number of other colorful characters as well, painting a picture of a story revolving around friendship, love, and trust. If this is the modus operandi of GTA 6‘s narrative, then an honor system that’s more focused on reputation or social sim mechanics could be just what the doctor ordered.

Perhaps GTA 6 will let players affect Jason and Lucia’s relationships with NPCs through their actions, making decisions that certain characters will either approve or disapprove of. These could be significant, story-relevant decisions with major repercussions, or they could be small, low-level actions, like greeting or antagonizing certain NPCs in the overworld. A recent GTA 6 leak alleges that players can freeroam as Jason and Lucia simultaneously, with the non-controlled protagonist tagging along as a companion, so perhaps their relationship could be informed by choices made during these exploration sessions. Regardless, a spin on Red Dead Redemption‘s honor mechanics has the chance to make GTA 6‘s world and story far more reactive and engaging, so hopefully, Rockstar incorporates such mechanics in an interesting way.